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The Missile Community Cancer Study: Initial Report on Cancer Incidence and Mortality
Keith T Beam1, Gregory G Wolff1, Sarah M Fryman-Wynkoop1
1Epidemiology Consult Service, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Building 840 Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433, United States.
Military Medicine
|August 6, 2026
Summary
This study found no increased cancer risk for missile crew members compared to the general population or other Air Force personnel. Cancer incidence and mortality rates were similar or lower in the missile community.
Area of Science:
- Military health research
- Cancer epidemiology
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Military cancer cluster investigations are a public health concern.
- Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) personnel face unique, demanding work conditions.
- Previous studies on cancer risks in military populations have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate cancer incidence and mortality among ICBM missile community (MC) members.
- To compare cancer risks in the MC to non-missile Air Force personnel (internal comparison).
- To compare cancer risks in the MC to the general U.S. population (external comparison).
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple Department of Defense (DoD) and Veteran's Administration (VA) data sources (1976-2010).
- Conducted internal (MC vs. non-MC) and external (MC vs. U.S. population) comparative analyses.
- Adjusted for demographic factors (sex, age, race, rank, year of death) and used regression analyses.
Main Results:
- Males comprised 92.92% of the MC; White individuals were the majority in both MC and non-MC groups.
- Prostate cancer was the most common cancer in both MC and non-MC.
- Cancer incidence and mortality rates in the MC were statistically similar or lower than both comparison groups.
Conclusions:
- The study did not identify an increased risk of cancer incidence or mortality in the ICBM missile community.
- Findings provide a reliable assessment of cancer risks for this specific military population.
- Results will inform future military cancer epidemiology study designs.
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